Festival Patrons

M.V. SHREYAMS KUMAR

Joint Managing Director, Mathrubhumi. Envisioned lifestyle and travel magazines, news and youth channels, developed online vertical, launched FM stations including from the Gulf, an event management and integrated media solutions divisions, first-ever luxury expo in Kerala, which touch the lives of Malayalees worldwide. He conceptualised Mathrubhumi SEED (Student Empowerment for Environmental Development) initiative, to impart environmental consciousness by sensitising students to the green inheritance of our blue planet, which has won global recognition. Vice-President of News Broadcasters Association, New Delhi. A public figure, he has twice represented his home constituency of Kalpetta, Wayanad in the Kerala Legislative Assembly


P.V. CHANDRAN

Managing Editor, Mathrubhumi and Chairman of Kerala Transport Company group is an industrialist. He is the eldest son of industrialist and freedom fighter the late P V Sami and the late Madhavi Sami. Under his leadership, the group diversified into health care, property development, automobile & petroleum dealerships, plantations, food industry and education. President of the Indian Newspaper Society in 2015-16. He has been honoured with the prestigious Transport Samrat Award.


SHASHI THAROOR

An Indian politician, writer and former diplomat currently serving as a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha since 2009. He is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs and All India Professionals Congress of the Indian National Congress. Dr. Tharoor was previously the Minister of State, Government of India for External Affairs and Human Resource Development. He is an acclaimed writer, having authored 16 bestselling works of fiction and non-fiction since 1981, all of which are centered on India and its history, culture, film, politics, society, foreign policy and more. He has also authored hundreds of columns and articles in publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, TIME, Newsweek and The Times of India. He was a contributing editor of Newsweek International for two years.